About Border Frames

In 1965 Sam Sloan founded Border Frames to manufacture wooden photo frames. At the start there was little of the technology we see today. Every piece of every frame had to be hand drilled and pinned. As business grew, Sam developed and adapted machines to speed up cutting and joining. This spirit of innovation has continued to the present day when we have the latest precision mitering saws and computer operated mount-cutting machines.

During the 1980's Border Frames expanded into aluminium framing and the corporate framing market by acquiring Swiframe™. The capacity of the business continued to increase and we earned an enviable reputation for high quality and short lead times. This led to further corporate business. By the 1990's with Alan Sloan now in charge, new opportunities arose with the development of synthetic mouldings.

Besides keeping ahead with technology, design innovation is a priority. From introducing the first gold frames for colour photography some 45 years ago, to being first to supply white presentation boxes and advancing the use of specialist mounts, we at Border Frames are continually developing new ideas for the modern world of imaging.

In the new millennium many of the frames manufactured for the commodity end of the market are produced by developing Chinese companies. While this changed the face of frame manufacturing in the UK, Borders emphasis on innovation, quality and service are essential ingredients for growth in the photographic and corporate markets.

The family firm offers photographic frames and provides a framing service for the corporate sector occupying a 20,000 sq ft factory on the original site in the village of Lochmaben, where it is one of the key employers in what is still a peaceful part of rural Dumfriesshire.